Description: With the appearance of Homer's study, it is no longer possible to base any serious work about organized crime on the superficial debate over whether or not this set of activities is dominated by one or more particular ethnic groups, writes political scientist Michael A. Weinstein in his introduction. Homer removes the study of organized crime from the realm of sensationalism and ethnic chauvinism, and places it in the context of contemporary American social structure. He reviews prevalent myths and hypotheses about organized crime and critically analyzes them in the framework of contemporary organization theory. In this context, organized crime is analyzed in its economic, political, ethnic, and social class dimensions.
Brief description: Frederic D. Homer holds a Ph.D in government from Indiana University. Formerly an assistant professor of political science at Purdue University, he is assistant professor of political science and director of the Administration of Justice Program at the University of Wyoming.
Review Quotes:
"Many books, exposes, and articles on organized crime perhaps make good detectives reading, but they offer little to the social scientist. Guns and Garlic . . . amply fills this gap and establishes a firm foundation for future research . . . . This study is a solid contribution.
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